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(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1 B. A. WEATHERBE E'.

MAGHINE FOR GATHERING'STONBS.

No. 312,237. Patented Feb. 10, 188 5.

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' B. A. WEATHERBEE. MACHINE FOR GATHERING STONES.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 10

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N. PETERS. Pho\n-Lilhagr:pher, Wa hinglnm ac {N0 ModeL) B. A. WEATHERBEE.

MACHINE FOR GATHERING STONES. I

Patented Feb. 10, 1885.

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N. PETERS. Pholo-Lilhographcr. Washmglnm D c York, have invented new and useful Improveihvirn STATES BRAYTON A. \VEATHERBEE,

OF WARREN, NEW YORK.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,237, dated February 10, 18 85.

Application filed September 10, 188-1.

T0 ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BRAYTON A. WEATHER BEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at town of Warren, Herkimer county, New

ments in Machines for Gathering Stones, of which the following is a specification;

My invention relates to machines for gathering stones; and it consists in certain improvements upon the invention shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States issued to me upon the 10th day of June, 1884, No. 300,173.

It is the purpose of my present invention,. first, to provide a receptacle for the .stones gathered by the machine having such construction that its contents shall be retained when the apparatus is carried up steep grades; second, to provide said stone-receptacle with a hinged end wall and an apron having automatic operation, which will be opened when the pressure or weight of the load is thrown against it, thereby allowing the latter to be dumped at the side of the machine; and, third, to combine with said receptacle hoisting mechanism whereby one end of the latter is raised more rapidly than the other, throwing the pressure of the load against the hinged end, opening the same, and dumping the stones at one side and out of the path of the machine.

With these purposes in view, therefore, my invention consists, first, in the combination, with a stone-gathering machine, of a receptacle for the stones loaded thereon, said receptacle being provided upon its bottom with ribs or corrugations arranged transversely to the line of motion of the machine, whereby the discharge of the stones when the machine is ascending a steep grade is prevented and the dumping of the same not obstructed; second, in the combination, with astone-gathering machine, of a receptacle for the stones, said receptacle having one of its ends hinged and provided with an angular guard-plate or apron having a pivoted'arm running in aslot in the front wall of said receptacle, whereby said hinged end'is, by the pressure of the load, automatically thrown down as the receptacle is hoisted into an inclined position, forming a chute by which the stones are dumped; third, in the combination, with a stone-gathering machine, of a receptacle for the stones loaded (No model.)

thereon and hoisting mechanism by which said receptacle is raised into suitable position for dumping, one end thereof being lifted more rapidly than the other in order to give a dumping inclination to said receptacle.

My invention finally consists in the several novel features of construction and combina tions of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and

definitely pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine in which my invention is embodied. Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing the stone-receptacle and its hoisting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the receptacle raised and its hinged end opened to dump the load. Fig. at is apartial side elevation of the machine, showing the gearing by which the hoisting mechanism is operated.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken in the plane 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the machine.

As my present invention consists in certain improvements upon the mechanism shown and claimed in Letters Patent No. 300,173, issued to me June 10, 183i, forimprovements in machines for gathering stones, I will describe the apparatus shown in said patent so far only as may be necessary to give a clear understanding of the construction and operation of the mechanism which forms the subject of the present application. In the said drawings the reference-number 1 denotes the frame of the machine, which is normal position lie upon or nearly in contact with the ground, and serve to prevent stones which are projected by the revolving pickers from flying off to one side and injuring the gearing. The guides 8 may be raised by a rock-shaft, 10, mounted in brackets 11 and oscillated by a lever, 12, pivoted near the front of the machine, and connected with an arm, 13, upon the rock-shaft by means of a wire or rod, 14. Upon the shaft are mounted arms 15, having chains 16 connecting their extremities with the guides. It will be seen that by throwing the lever 12 forward the guides will be thrown toward the rear and upward. The same lever by which this function is accomplished also operates the devices by which the teeth 7 of the drag-apron are raised. A rod, 17, is arranged transversely beneath the series of teeth forming said apron, and at each end of said rod isformed a crank arm or elbow, 18, having bearing in the machine-frame. One

of these bearing ends is provided with a cranklever, 19, having its extremity connected with the lever 12 by a rod or wire, 20. The operation of these parts is evident and requires no explanation; If desired, the lifting rod 17 might be used to raise the guides 8 by simply forming the latter of such length that their rear ends shall, when the guides are dropped, abut against the ends of the rod 17. As the latter is operated to raise the teeth of the dragapron it will throw the guides backward and upward, and support them in that position, thus enabling me to dispense with the separate mechanism heretofore described. The rod also may act as a guard, to prevent the plates 8 from swinging too far forward, thereby dispensing with the guard (1". (Shown in my patent of June 10, 1884.)

The propelling mechanism, or the devices by which the stones are gathered and thrown over the drag-apron into the stone-receptacle, consists of a revolving propellershaft, 21, hav ing disks 22 mounted upon each end. These disks have seats upon their inner faces for the reception of the ends of a series of bars, 23, to which are secured the propelling-teeth 24, in the manner shown in my patent already mentioned. The pr0pel1er-shaft is revolved by a driving-gear, 4, carried by the shaft 3, upon which the rear wheels, 2, of the machine are mounted. The latter wheels are loosely mounted upon the shaft, and each one carries a spring-actuated pawl, 25, which takes into a ratchet, 26, rigid upon shaft 3 as the machine moves forward and rides over the ratchet-teeth without revolving the shaft when the machine is driven backward.

The propelling devices are mounted upon arms 27, pivoted upon the ends of the shaft 3, and raised by a lever, 28, which operates a rock-shaft, 29, having arms 30,which are connected with slotted links 31, pivoted to the rear portions of the arms 27. The lever 28 is fastened when the arms 27 are raised by a hook, 32, upon the side and near the forward end of the machine. Runner-wheels 33 are mounted upon the arms to support the weight of the propeller-shaft and its connections, and upon the rear extremity of one of said arms is pivoted a cam-lever, 34, having its cam turning in a ring, 35, formed in the end of a link, 36, connected with one end of the propellershaft 21. By throwing said lever toward the rear the pinion 37 upon the end of the shaft is drawn out of mesh with the driving-gear 4. These devices are substantially similar to those shown in my patent mentioned above. As the stones are caught by the propelling teeth 24 they are thrown over the drag-apron 7 and received by a three-sided box or receptacle,38. The latter device, which may be constructed of metal or any other suitable material, is provided upon its bottom with ribs or corrugations 39, separated from each other by a suitable interval and arranged transversely to the line of motion of the machine. Upon its rear side the receptacle is open to permit the unobstructed entrance of the stones; but it is provided upon the front with a wall, 40, and has end walls,41 and 42,the latter being united to the bottom by a hinge-joint, 43. The end wall, 42, is also provided with a longitudinally-extending flap or apron, 44, which-lies against the front wall, 40, and is connected therewith by means of a strip, 5, having one end pivoted to the flap or apron 44, the other extremity being provided with a pin, 46, working in a slot cut horizontally in the front wall near its upper edge. The length of the strip 45 and of the slot 47 is such that when the end 42 is swung down into the position shown in Fig. 3, the'strip 45 will support the end wall in substantially the same plane with the ribbed bottom, while at the same time the apron 44 will form a continuation of the front wall, 40,

' for a purpose presently to be described.

The stone-receptacle is suspended within the frame of the machine and just in front of the dragapron 7 by means of four cords attached to it at the lower corners. Of these cords two-viz., those denoted by the numeral 48 -pass from their points of attachment to a large drum, 49, one of said cords passing over a friction-pulley, 50, journaled upon a post, 51, the latter being connected by a brace, 52, with a post, 53, in which is journaled the shaft 49, carrying the drum 49. The cords 54, attached to the opposite end of the receptacle, have a similar arrangement, one being carried over a frictiona'oll, 55, and the other passing directly to a drum, 56, upon the shaft 49, said drum being considerably less in diameter than the drum 49. It is evident that if rotation is imparted to the drum-shaft the end of the receptacle opposite the larger drum will rise more rapidly than the other end, whereby the shaft having been operated to its full extent, the receptacle will occupy the inclined position shown in Fig. 3. In this position a part of the weight of the stones accumulated in the receptacle will be thrown against the hinged end wall 42, and the latter being swung down thereby forms a chute, over which the load is dumped upon the right-hand side of the machine.

Upon the end of the drum shaft 49 is mounted a crown-gear, 57', meshing with a IEO 3 vent the stones from dying over the front of pinion, 58, upon a vertical shaft, 59, journaled in brackets and 60, secured to the machineframe. Upon the lower end of the shaft 59 is mounted a second pinion, 58, meshing witha worm, 61, the worm-shaft 62 being journaled at one end in a bracket, 63, and at the other in a pivoted bearing-plate, 64, which projects upward through a slot in the lower bracket, 60, and has itslower end pivoted to the machine-fra-nie at 65.

Upon the bracket 60 is pivoted a bar, 66, having .its free endbent at right angles to its body portion. \Vhen the worm-gear 61 is in mesh with its pinion, this hooked end is turned behind the pivoted bearing-plate 64 and holds the parts in gear.

By operating the worm by a crank, 67, the drum-shaft 49 is rotated, the stone-receptacle raised, and its contents dumped in the manner set forth above. Then the receptacle is to be lowered, the hooked bar 66 is pushed back, removing its end from engagement with the bearing-plate 64, and the latter is thrown back, drawing. the worm away from the pinion 58 and unmeshing them. The weight of the receptacle will then cause it to descend to its proper position.

A guard-plate, 68, is hinged to the machineframe so as to turn down over the top of the receptacle when the latter is lowered, to pre the machine.

I claim nothing in this application which is shown and described in Letters Patent No. 300,173, granted to me June 10, 1884, and referred to herein.

Instead of worm-gearing 61 I may use facegear, which is preferable by reason of its greater speed. I

I have shown in the drawings cords or ropes for raising the stone-receptacle; but I prefer to use chains, as cords are liable to stretch and wear.

'What I claim is 1. In a stone-gathering machine, the combination, with a stone-receptacle, of ribs or corrugations formed upon the bottom thereof transversely to the line of motion of the machine, substantially as described.

2. In a'stone-gathering machine, the combination, with a stone-receptacle, of hoisting.- drums ot'different diameters, wherebyone end of said receptacle is elevated more rapidly than the other, substantially as described.

3. In a stone-gathering machine, the combination, with a stone-receptacle which is hoisted to dump the load, of a hinged end wall having an angular extension or apron covering a portion of the rear wall,and means, substantially as described, for supporting the hinged end when thrown down to form a chute, as set forth.

4. In a stone-gathering machine, the combination, with a stone-receptacle which is hoisted to dump the load, of a hinged end wall, an angular extension thereof covering a portion of the front wall, and a strip pivoted at one end upon said extension and having a pin upon its other end running in a slot in the front wall, substantially as described.

5. In a stone-gathering machine, the combination, with a stone-receptacle having a hinged end wall, 42, provided with an extension or apron, 44, of cords attached to the four corners of said receptacle and leading at one end,to a large drum, 49, and at the other end to a small drum, 54, substantially as described. 4

6. In a stonegathering machine, the combination, with a stone-receptacle having a hinged end wall, 42, an apron, 44, and astrip, 45, pivoted at one end to the apron, and having a pin upon the other end running in a slot, 47, of hoisting mechanism whereby the receptacle is raised into an inclined position and the weight of the load thrown partly against the hinged end wall, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

BRAYTON A. \VEATHERBEE.

Witnesses:

F. B. GETOHELL, ANNA M. Srour. 

